ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national space agency has forecast that the Ramadan moon will be invisible to the naked eye on Feb. 28, state-run media reported, meaning that the South Asian country will mark the beginning of the holy Islamic month from Mar. 2.
In Pakistan, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is tasked with sighting the moon for new Islamic months. Dates for Ramadan and Eid festivals are confirmed by the committee through visual observations and based on testimonies received of the crescent being sighted from several parts of the country.
The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has forecast that due to its low altitude and distance, the crescent will be difficult to sight on Feb. 28. According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), SUPARCO said the angular distance between the sun and the moon will be 7 degrees on Feb. 28, making the crescent “invisible to the naked eye” that day.
“Based on these observations, the holy month of Ramadan in Pakistan is expected to begin on March 2, 2025,” APP reported on Monday. The report also said that as per SUPARCO’s forecast, the Shawwal moon will be sighted on Mar. 30 in Pakistan, with Eid-ul-Fitr expected to be on Mar. 31.
However, the Pakistani space agency said the crescent may be visible in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 28, making Ramadan likely to start there on Mar. 1, 2025.
“The final decision on moon sighting rests with the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee,” APP quoted SUPARCO as saying.
Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, where Muslims abstain from food, drink and sexual activities from sunrise to sunset. This is followed by the sighting of the new moon and is marked by Eid-ul-Fitr, a religious holiday and celebration that is observed by Muslims across the world.
Pakistan’s national space agency says Ramadan likely to begin from Mar. 2
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Pakistan’s national space agency says Ramadan likely to begin from Mar. 2
- In Pakistan, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is tasked with sighting moon for new Islamic months
- Pakistan’s space agency says moon likely to be invisible to the naked eye on Feb. 28
Pakistani religio-political party relocates pro-Gaza march after Red Zone sealed in Islamabad
- Jamaat-e-Islami shifts Gaza march to Expressway after initially planning to rally outside the US embassy
- JI leaders promise a ‘sea of people’ in Islamabad, urge government not to block roads across the city
ISLAMABAD: A popular Pakistani religio-political party shifted its Gaza Solidarity March from outside the United States embassy to Expressway between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, its spokesperson confirmed Sunday, after authorities sealed all routes to the Red Zone in the federal capital that houses embassies and sensitive government buildings.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) announced to organize the march toward the US diplomatic mission in Islamabad during its recent rallies in Karachi, Lahore and other Pakistani cities to protest Washington’s support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The party has also given a call for a nationwide strike against Israel’s war on April 22.
“JI will now hold the Gaza March on Islamabad Expressway near Zero Point, where a stage will be set up at the H-8 overhead bridge, and the party chief, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, along with other central leaders, will address the gathering,” Aamir Baloch, the JI spokesperson for foreign media, said in a statement.
He promised “a sea of people” in Islamabad as the march to express solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza proceeded.
“We urge the government to refrain from underhand tactics and ensure all routes remain open,” he told Arab News in response to a question about road closures across Islamabad.
The Islamabad administration issued a traffic advisory earlier in the day, saying all roads to the Red Zone had been closed except for two entry points.
“Containers are placed at all major Red Zone access points, including D-Chowk,” the administration said in a statement. “Only Margalla Road and Bari Imam gates are open.”
Responding to these developments, the JI general secretary, Amirul Azeem, said in a video message his party’s march would remain peaceful like its recent demonstrations in other parts of the country.
“The government of Pakistan has decided to stop this march,” he said. “I request the people of Pakistan to actively participate in it.”
Pakistan does not maintain diplomatic ties with Israel and has consistently condemned its military actions in Gaza, particularly the killing of thousands of unarmed Palestinian women and children. Islamabad has also urged the resumption of humanitarian aid to the besieged territory and called for renewed negotiations aimed at a two-state solution.
It has long supported the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed over 51,000 people and injured more than 116,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Pakistan PM launches second nationwide polio vaccination drive of 2025
- Pakistan plans to vaccinate 45 million children against poliovirus nationwide from Apr. 21-27
- Shehbaz Sharif urges Pakistani parents to help vaccination teams administer polio drops
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched Pakistan’s second nationwide vaccination campaign against poliovirus, scheduled to be held from Apr. 21-27, as Islamabad struggles to eradicate the disease.
Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure and multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine — along with completing the routine immunization schedule for children under five — are crucial to building immunity against the virus.
Pakistan, which has reported six polio cases so far in 2025, has planned three major vaccination campaigns in the first half of the year, with additional rounds scheduled for April and May. The seven-day campaign is going to be the second anti-polio drive to be held this year, and aims to vaccinate over 45 million children against the disease.
“It is my request to parents all over Pakistan that they help us out in administering polio drops to their children,” Sharif said during a ceremony in Islamabad.
“Help our teams in the field so that this virus can be eliminated for good.”
Sharif said the government has undertaken stringent security measures in sensitive areas for polio volunteers. He called on authorities to mobilize the public so that they become “soldiers” in the fight against poliovirus.
Earlier, the prime minister kicked off the anti-polio campaign by administering polio drops to a few children.
Pakistan’s polio program, launched in 1994, has faced persistent challenges including vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim immunization is a foreign conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a guise for Western espionage.
Militant groups have also repeatedly targeted and killed polio vaccination workers.
In 2024, Pakistan reported an alarming 74 polio cases. Along with Afghanistan, it remains one of the only two countries where polio is still endemic.
Pakistan’s national airline launches first direct Lahore-Baku flight in push for connectivity
- PIA’s flight PK-159 departs from Lahore Airport at 11:50 am with 152 passengers on board for Baku
- Flight will strengthen relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, says Defense Minister Khawaja Asif
KARACHI: Pakistan’s national airline launched the first Lahore to Baku flight on Sunday, marking its latest step to expand travel links amid Islamabad’s push for deeper connectivity with Central Asian states.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) launched its weekly flight from Lahore to Baku as Islamabad strengthens diplomatic and trade ties with Azerbaijan, a key partner in its broader regional outreach. The new route is expected to boost tourism, business travel, and cultural exchange between the two countries.
PIA’s PK-159 flight departed from Lahore Airport at 11:50 am with 152 passengers for Baku. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov attended a ceremony at the airport before the flight’s departure.
“PIA is expanding its network, and Baku is an important addition to this chain,” Asif was quoted as saying by the airline. “This flight will significantly strengthen relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.”
The new flight service is seen as part of Pakistan’s ongoing quest to improve air connectivity with countries in Central Asia, where it has been seeking to expand trade and diplomatic engagement in recent years.
Pakistan is aggressively eyeing opportunities to expand trade and tourism ties with regional allies, Gulf countries, Central Asian states and others as it targets sustainable economic growth.
Pakistan eyes enhanced cooperation with Saudi Arabia to prevent drug trafficking
- Pakistan’s interior minister meets Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki
- Mohsin Naqvi assures Saudi envoy Pakistan has “tightened the noose” around begging mafia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan wants to enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia in curbing illicit activities such as drug trafficking and human smuggling, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday.
Pakistan this week organized the Pak-GCC Regional Narcotics Conference, organized by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) in Islamabad, where delegates from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait gathered to develop a joint strategy against narcotics trafficking and abuse.
Naqvi visited the Saudi embassy in Islamabad on Sunday where he met Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki. The two discussed matters of mutual interest, enhancing bilateral relations and increasing mutual cooperation, the interior ministry said.
“We want to enhance cooperation with Saudi Arabia to prevent drug trafficking and human smuggling,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by his ministry.
Islamabad has been worried about the trend of Pakistani beggars abusing visas to beg in foreign countries. Pakistan fears this could impact genuine visa-seekers and particularly religious pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia.
According to widespread media reports, Riyadh raised this issue with Islamabad at various forums last year.
Naqvi assured Malki that the government has “tightened the noose” around the begging mafia in Pakistan.
“New conditions are being imposed for obtaining passports to curb begging and illegal immigration,” he said.
Naqvi thanked Saudi Arabia for releasing a Pakistani family that had been “framed” for smuggling narcotics to the Kingdom earlier this year.
“Saudi Arabia provided significant support for the release and repatriation of the innocent family,” he said.
“Thanks to the cooperation of the Saudi government, five members of the family were released and returned home,” he added.
As per the interior ministry, Malki said Riyadh enjoyed close relations with Islamabad and wanted to strengthen them further.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial relations rooted in shared faith, culture and traditions.
Pakistanis are the second-largest expatriate community in the Kingdom, with over 2.5 million living and working in Saudi Arabia, the top source of remittances to the South Asian country.
Security beefed up in Islamabad ahead of religiopolitical party’s pro-Gaza march today
- Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan plans to organize Gaza Solidarity March at 3:00 p.m. in Islamabad today
- Local media reports say major routes leading to Red Zone sealed off with containers, barbed wire
ISLAMABAD: Security has been beefed up in Pakistan’s capital and all routes leading to the Red Zone in Islamabad have been sealed today, Sunday, ahead of a planned Gaza Solidarity March by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) political party.
Religiopolitical party JI had announced it would organize a march toward the US embassy in Islamabad on Apr. 20 to protest Washington’s support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The JI has held massive protests in Karachi, Lahore and other Pakistani cities this month to protest against Israel’s renewed hostilities in Gaza. The party has also called for a nationwide strike against Israel’s war on Apr. 22.
“Jamaat-e-Islami’s Gaza March is taking place in Islamabad today,” Amirul Azeem, the JI’s general secretary, said in a video message.
“The government of Pakistan has decided to stop this march. I request the people of Pakistan to actively participate in it.”
Azeem said the Islamabad march by the party would remain peaceful similar to its demonstrations in other parts of the country in the recent past. He urged men, women and the elderly from all walks of life to take part in the march and show their support for Palestine.
Local media reported that the government has heightened security measures in the capital ahead of the march, which is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm.
Authorities have blocked three main routes leading to the Red Zone, a high-security area in Islamabad where all the top government buildings, diplomatic missions, and key institutions are located, using containers, barbed wire and concrete barriers.
News reports also mentioned the increased presence of police personnel at various locations in the city.
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has frequently criticized the Jewish state for its military operations in Gaza. Islamabad has also called for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory and the need for a revival of negotiations leading to a two-state solution.
Islamabad consistently calls for an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s military offensives in Gaza have killed over 51,000 people and wounded over 116,000, as per the Gaza Health Ministry.
